"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH

Well it's a predictable mix of the first choice with the fringe. Ashton has given at least four players (Hipkiss, Farrell, Shaw & Easter) who might not be on the plane (or Eurostar) as of now to play themselves into or out of contention.

Back-row looks like a back-row a backs coach would pick too. Corry (who played v Wales & France at lock) is at blindside, Worsley (very much a 6) is at openside & Nick Easter (who'd you'd think would be behind Dallaglio & Ward-Smith) starts at 8.

The halves & the back-line are probably our current first choices tho. The absences of Abendanon, Cipriani & Lewsey might mean they miss out this time round.

Just back from watching England fairly rip yer Welsh a new one @ Twickers. 62-5! My Wales look average. Admittedly it wasn't there strongest line-up, but to conceed a record score was a bit disappointing. Our pack was very impressive but (weird to say despite the score) our backs aren't gelling yet. Until the very end all our tries came from the forwards or Perry, who played as an adjunct to the pack today.

Think we'll find out more against the French (which I haven't got ticket for ) next week.

No real huge surprises. Tom Plamer might feel slightly miffed, having gone from starting lock in our last 6 Nations game to missing out altogether, but Shaw, Kay & Borthwick have all performed creditably in the warm-ups & Corry also provides cover in the back row. Barkley may be the luckiest man on the plane as I can only think his superior goal-kicking got him the nod over Flood because I thought his option taking versus France was rather ordinary.